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National Strategies, Plans and Programmes

EDO Seminar, Biodiversity and the Law, 3 rd May, 2010 IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL – THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION & BIODIVERSITY ACT 1999(Cth.) AND ITS RECENT REVIEW Prof. Rob Fowler, Law School, University of South Australia. National Strategies, Plans and Programmes.

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National Strategies, Plans and Programmes

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  1. EDO Seminar, Biodiversity and the Law, 3rd May, 2010IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL – THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION & BIODIVERSITY ACT 1999(Cth.) AND ITS RECENT REVIEWProf. Rob Fowler, Law School, University of South Australia

  2. National Strategies, Plans and Programmes • See CBD, Art. 6(a) (“develop national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”) • IGAE, 1992, cl.3.5.4 – conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity is one of 4 core principles • National ESD Strategy, 1992 – Objective 9.1 • National Biodiversity Strategy 1996: currently under revision by NRM Ministerial Council, proposed to release new version April 2010 • National Reserves System: established 1996 for terrestrial biodiversity conservation • National Oceans Policy 1998: proposed national representative system of marine protected areas (MPA’s)

  3. National Strategies, Plans and Programmes Australia’s National Reserves System • based on “CAR” concept (comprehensive, adequate and representative”) • established in 1996, but builds on previous efforts over more than 100 years: • Includes over 9000 parks and reserves (also reserves managed by private trusts) • Covers 900,000 sq.kms • 30 million ha. added between 1996-2008 • Represents more than 11% of Australian landmass • Covers Cth., States, Territories, AAT and offshore islands • Does not include marine system – separate policy for MPA’s See Report of Senate Standing Committee on Environment, 2007 (“Conserving Australia: Australia’s National Parks, Conservation Reserves and Marine Protected Areas” for an overview:

  4. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) • Repealed previous Cth. biodiversity-related legislation; • National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 • Whale Protection Act 1980 • World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983 • Endangered Species Protection Act 1987 • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Cth.) not affected • Amendments to the Act subsequently also repealed: • Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 (2001) – re CITES • Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 (Cth.) (2003)

  5. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – Mechanisms for the Protection of Biodiversity • Declaration of “controlled actions” – EIA and approval • Protected areas • Listing of endangered species, ecological communities, etc • Compliance and enforcement mechanisms • Other: • Conservation agreements • Access and benefit-sharing • Biodiversity offsets (via conditions on environmental approvals)

  6. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) - 1. EIA and Approval re “Controlled Actions” • EIA may be required re any action likely to have a significant impact on a “matter of national environmental significance”, as follows: • A declared World Heritage property (s.12) • A National Heritage place (s.15B) • A declared Ramsar wetland (s.16) • A listed threatened species or endangered community (s.18) • A listed migratory species (s.20) • A nuclear action (s. 21); and • Activities involving a Commonwealth marine area (s.24) • Re approval, Minister must have regard to “general considerations” (s. 146F) and additional considerations specific to the particular MNES (ss. 146G – M) e.g., any international obligations involved

  7. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 1. EIA and Approval re “Controlled Actions” • the Act’s EIA and approval procedures may also be applied to actions involving Commonwealth land (s.26), Commonwealth Heritage places outside the Australian jurisdiction (s.27B) and Commonwealth agencies (s.28) – if such actions may have a significant environmental impact.

  8. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 2. Protected Areas

  9. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 2. Protected Areas – Summary • 35 Commonwealth Reserves (6 national parks, 2 botanic gardens and 27 marines reserves (MPA’s) • 17 World Heritage properties • Over 100 National Heritage List properties (including all 17 World Heritage properties) • 64 Ramsar wetlands • 14 Biosphere reserves

  10. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 3. Listings

  11. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 3. Listings

  12. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 4. Compliance & Enforcement Mechanisms • Conservation order (s.464) – issued by Minister • where necessary to protect a threatened species or ecological community on Commonwealth land • Remediation determination – issued by Minister • To remedy damage caused by breach of a civil penalty provision of the Act • Injunction (civil enforcement) – Federal Court • For breach of Act (s.475) or a conservation agreement (s.476) • May be sought by an “interested person” – see s.475(6) • Remediation order (s.480D) – Federal Court (s.480A) • To remedy damage caused by a breach of the Act • Only Minister may apply to court for a remediation order • Remediation action (civil liability)– ss.499, 500: Minister may take action to remedy damage caused by breach of the Act – person responsible liable for expenses involved. • Penalties - both criminal and civil

  13. EP & BC Act 1999 (Cth.) – 5. Other Measures • Conservation agreements (s.305) • Minister may enter into for purpose of protecting biodiversity or any matter of national environmental significance • May provide for measures to repair or mitigate damage (s. 307A) • Environmental audits (s.458) • May be required where approval or permit granted, in event of breach of a condition or unanticipated environmental impacts • Access to biological resources and benefit-sharing (s.301) – dealt with by Part 8A of EPBC Regulations.) • Non-native species (s. 301A) - to be dealt with by Regs. • Biodiversity offsets (bio-banking) – may be provided for through an environmental approval, but not explicitly addressed by the Act

  14. Reform of EPBC Act – the Report of the Independent Review (2009) • General recommendations: • Repeal EPBC Act and replace with a new Australian Environment Act (R1) • Confirm ESD as underpinning philosophy (R2) and revise objects to promote conservation of ecological integrity and nationally important biodiversity (R3) • Develop a system of national environmental accounts (R67) • Establish a National Environmental Commissioner and Commission to advise Minister re decisions on EIA and approvals and promote the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices (R71) • Minister to have power to issue environment protection orders (R58)

  15. Reform of EPBC Act – the Report of the Independent Review (2009) • Recommendations re controlled actions (“MNES”) • Introduce new MNES re “ecosystems of environmental significance” (R8) • Introduce new greenhouse trigger for activities producing 500,000 tonnes or more CO2- e (R10) • Include vulnerable ecological communities as MNES (R14) • Minister to be able to consider wider range of environmental impacts re controlled actions (3 options provided)

  16. Reform of EPBC Act – the Report of the Independent Review (2009) Recommendations re Protected Areas: • Expand role of bioregional plans (rename “regional plans”) to include terrestrial as well as marine environment and allow Cth. to develop such plans unilaterally (R6) • Simplify process for National heritage listing (R29) • Management plans to focus on outcomes rather than content and process (R32); • Minister to be able to prepare management plans for WH properties, Ramsar wetlands and NHL places where collaboration with States has not produced effective plans (R34) • Revise provisions re management of Cth. Reserves to ensure they meet the needs of marine reserves (R35) • Strengthen the protection of biodiversity in conservation zones (R36) • Repeal provisions re Biosphere Reserves (R37)

  17. Reform of EPBC Act – the Report of the Independent Review (2009) Recommendations re Listings Processes: • Cth., States and territories to establish a single list of threatened species, including marine species and ecological communities, through accreditation of State and Territory listing processes (R5) • Identify critical habitat for listed species at the time of listing and discontinue the Register of Critical Habitat (R12) • When listing species/communities, Minister to consider ESD in exceptional circumstances (R15) • Minister to have the power to make emergency listings of species/communities (R16) • Greater flexibility re recovery and threat abatement plans to allow their development at a regional scale (R18) • Better definition of key threatening processes and allow their identification at a range of scales (R19) • Allow merits review of decisions by Minister re permits for activities affecting protected species (R48)

  18. Reform of EPBC Act – the Report of the Independent Review (2009) Recommendations re other matters: • COAG to develop a national bio-banking system and standards (R7) • New Act to facilitate bio-banking as part of project approvals (R8) • RE access to biological resources and benefit – sharing, move Part 8A of EPBC Regs into Act and increase penalties for non-compliance

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